2020 Winners

Middle School Division

Abbie Kroll, Piano

Abbie Kroll, 12, is a 7th grader at CCSD Challenge Middle School and is currently studying piano with Mrs. Jasmine Steadman.

She started lessons at age 5 with Carolyn Shaak, and in the next few years she performed Haydn’s Concerto in C, first and third movements, with Colorado’s Inside the Orchestra and began participating in local competitions and recitals. She also performed in the Honors Recital in the Interlochen Art Camp Advanced Piano Division at age 8. She was a semi-finalist in the 2018 CSMTA Rising Star Piano Competition and the 2018 IKOF Piano Competition.

Abbie won Gold at the Global Melodies Piano Competition in 2017 and 2018, first place at the 2019 CSMTA Rising Star Piano Competition, and second place in the Yamaha Competition Advanced Competitive Division II. Most recently she earned second place in the 2019 Steinway Youth Concerto Competition Division II.

Abbie is a black belt Tae Kwon Do and a Colorado Cadet Girl Scout. In her spare time she enjoys reading, participating in math competitions, snowboarding, painting, and baking.

Abbie will be performing the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1, Movement 3.

Photo © Dale Steadman

High School Division

Julia Luyten, Violin

Julia Luyten, 16, is a junior at Cherry Creek High School and has been playing the violin since she was two years old.

She has attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Killington Music Festival, Encore Music Festival, and Heartland Chamber Music Festival. She was concertmaster of the 2018 Colorado Western States Orchestra, the 2019 Colorado All State Orchestra, and the Cherry Creek High School Orchestra.

Julia has soloed with the Heartland Chamber Music Orchestra on Kansas Public Radio, the Colorado Bach Ensemble, and the Loveland Orchestra. She won the 2018 Stillman Kelley Colorado Division, as well as the Western Division. She also placed first in the 2018 and 2019 Colorado Rising Stars Festival, was the 2018 MTNA Senior String Alternate, the 2017 MTNA Junior String Winner, and the 2017 MTNA West Central Division Alternate.

She hopes to continue her study of violin throughout college and pursue a career in music performance. When she’s not playing violin, she loves to read, run, and spend time with friends.

Julia will be performing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, Movement 1.